Theatre, Etc. (Enriching the Children) is a regional theater in Chico, California, owned by Shannon Beattie and local accompanist and performer Jeffrey Childs. According to their website, they are "dedicated to enriching the lives of young people through the Creative Arts."
History / Overview
After originally putting on children's theater productions at Theatre on the Ridge, a theater in nearby Paradise, California, the owners bought a former church in Chico and transformed it in the summer of 2006 into a playhouse complete with a performance area, music room, dance room, kitchen, and an indoor activity room for young children. Classes, as well as musical or dramatic productions, are offered to children and teenagers aged six through eighteen. Productions are typically directed by Shannon Beattie and musically directed by Jeffrey Childs, though other individuals contribute to the theatre and its productions.
Theatre, Etc. offers classes throughout the year (students enrolled in fall classes, if they choose, may audition for the fall production, while the spring and summer classes culminate in a musical). Four sections are available, separating children by age group: "Flashlights" (Ages 4–6), "Footlights" (Grades 1-3), "Stagelights" (Grades 4-6), and "Spotlights" (Grades 7-12) .